Monthly Archives: September 2012

Ladies, it’s the weekend and you’re planning to go out and drink with friends. But before you go, make sure you’re careful. While nobody wants to even dream that something could go wrong, sadly, sometimes things do go wrong. Before you go out and hit Massachusetts, make sure to educate yourself about date rape drugs and know how to avoid the possibility of being slipped a date rape drug, so you can avoid sexual assault at all costs.

About Date Rape Drugs

“These drugs are powerful and dangerous. They can be slipped into your drink when you are not looking. The drugs often have no color, smell, or taste, so you can’t tell if you are being drugged. The drugs can make you become weak and confused — or even pass out — so that you are unable to refuse sex or defend yourself.” (source)

These drugs are called rohypnol (sometimes called roofies, rope or the forget pill), GHB (sometimes called salt water, goop or soap), and ketamine (sometimes called bump, green or jet).

Effects of Date Rape Drugs

Each drug has unique effects. You may experience difficulty talking, trouble with motor function, drowsiness, numbness, vomiting, or nausea. Some of these effects are very close to the effects of intoxication, but with these drugs, the feelings are stronger.

What to do if you think you’ve been a victim of abuse

Sometimes you’ll know right away. Other times, you might wake up in confusion, uncertain of what just happened. If you suspect that you’ve been subjected to a date rape drug, and especially if you have been physically assaulted, please carefully follow these steps below outlined by Women’s Health:

1. Get medical care right away. Call 911 or have a trusted friend take you to a hospital emergency room. Don’t urinate, douche, bathe, brush your teeth, wash your hands, change clothes, or eat or drink before you go. These things may give evidence of the rape. The hospital will use a “rape kit” to collect evidence. (source)

2. Don’t pick up or clean up where you think the assault might have occurred. There could be evidence left behind — such as on a drinking glass or bed sheets. (source)

3. If you feel it necessary, get counseling and treatment. Feelings of shame, guilt, fear, and shock are normal. A counselor can help you work through these emotions and begin the healing process. Calling a crisis center or a hotline is a good place to start. One national hotline is the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-HOPE. (source)

How to avoid being drugged

The goal is to avoid date rape drugs all together. Here are a few tips that can help keep you safe and away from harm:

Sadly, while all of the precautions can be in place, we know bad thing still occur and that date rape drugs are still out there. If you suspect that you have been drugged but aren’t ready to visit with the police yet, we can also run a test for you to check for traces of the drug. As a walk-in lab that offers extreme confidentiality, we might be a good first step if you need to get a handle on the situation.

We hope you always keep this information in mind when you are out having a good time. Stay in control of your own situation, and don’t be a victim. Take every action you can to stay safe and avoid being drugged. And in the unfortunate situation where you think you might have just been harmed, please let us know if and how we can help.

Let’s face it. You’re a college student. You’ve got class, work, studying, and spending time with friends on your schedule. There are points when it seems like the world is crumbling down on you because of all the stuff you have to do. But what if you prioritized just one other thing – something that will be nothing but a benefit in the short term?

Positive Effects of Exercise

If you’re looking for ways to not only be healthy, but also make the most out of your college experience, make exercise a priority. You’ll feel confident, look good and reap many other positive benefits.

Improved Sleep. “Struggling to fall asleep? Or to stay asleep? Regular physical activity can help you fall asleep faster and deepen your sleep. Just don’t exercise too close to bedtime, or you may be too energized to fall asleep.” (source)

Weight Control. “Exercise can help prevent excess weight gain or help maintain weight loss. When you engage in physical activity, you burn calories. The more intense the activity, the more calories you burn. You don’t need to set aside large chunks of time for exercise to reap weight-loss benefits. If you can’t do an actual workout, get more active throughout the day in simple ways — by taking the stairs instead of the elevator or revving up your household chores.” (source)

Increased Energy. “Regular physical activity can improve your muscle strength and boost your endurance. Exercise and physical activity deliver oxygen and nutrients to your tissues and help your cardiovascular system work more efficiently. And when your heart and lungs work more efficiently, you have more energy to go about your daily chores.” (source)

Improved Mood. “A workout at the gym or a brisk 30-minute walk can help [relieve stress]. Physical activity stimulates various brain chemicals that may leave you feeling happier and more relaxed. You may also feel better about your appearance and yourself when you exercise regularly, which can boost your confidence and improve your self-esteem.” (source)

Social Activity. Exercise doesn’t have to be an activity that takes away from your social life. Going to the gym is a great opportunity to socialize. You may need a friend to spot you or just someone to talk to while you jog.

College life is stressful for everyone. There are ten thousand things going on at once. Give yourself some time to exercise. It may be extremely hard to prioritize, but once its a routine, it is a huge positive.

Is Exercise Making a Difference?

One problem many of us have with exercise is that we don’t see immediate results. It’s hard to stay encouraged when the pounds don’t fall off or we don’t notice an automatic change. While the outward effects of exercise may take a while to see, the inward effects begin right away. One way to see this is to do a full body wellness check before you begin an exercise routine, and then get periodic checkups as you continue working out. Your waist size might not change immediately, but your cholesterol levels might drop right away. Seeing what’s happening on the cellular level might encourage you to keep going!

Exercise WILL make a positive difference on your life! Make a commitment this semester to stay with it. Let us know if we can help!